Up to 7 Premier League teams could qualify for Champions League under new format - explained

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Up to 7 Premier League teams could qualify for Champions League under new format - explained

UEFA have come up with a new format for the Champions League. It will be introduced in the 2024/25 season.

Here are the key changes:

A single 36-team league will replace eight groups.

In this league, each team will play eight games, all against different opponents. That's a move away from six games against three opponents at the group stage in the current format.

Here's an example of what the schedule could look like for Chelsea under the new format: AC Milan (a), Copenhagen (h), Atletico (a), Shakhtar (h), PSG (a), Benfica (h), Real Sociedad (a), Ajax (h).

The final standings will determine who makes it into the playoffs. Eight best teams qualify directly, teams placed 9-24 play a two-legged playoff for a Round of 16 spot, teams placed 25-36 are eliminated. Knockout stages are unchanged.

The five-year historical coefficient system is scrapped. Now countries with the best collective performance in Europe will be awarded an extra spot in the next year's edition. If this applied this season, England and Italy would receive an extra spot each because teams from these countries have outperformed other nations.

Since the number of competitors has increased from 32 to 36, there are four more spots to give away. Thanks to England's sheer dominance over the recent years, the Premier League is almost certain to get an extra spot. The second extra spot will go to either Spain, Germany or Italy, depending on the collective performance of teams from those nations.

Effectively, a race for the top 4 will become a race for the top 5 in England. In exceptional circumstances, England could receive a maximum of seven Champions League spots: five spots by default and two more for Champions League and Europa League winners if they finish outside the top 5 in the Premier League. That sounds unlikely but technically, it's possible.

AuthorAleksei BlokhinSourceThe Athletic
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